Vacuum cleaner



Dec. 22, 1936.

' F. RilEBEL, JR l 2,064,856

VACUUM CLEANER Filed Ilay 25, 1955 Gttorneg cumferential flexing, is provided for operation Patented Dec. 22, 1936 PATENT oFFlCE A VACUUM CLEANER Frederick Rebel, Jr., Toledo, Ohio,v assignor to Air-Way Electric Appliance Corporation, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Y Application' May 25, 1935, Serial No. 23.385

18 Claims.

This invention relates to vacuum cleaners of the type shown in pending application Serial No. 752,270 filed November 9, 1934, wherein a rotary agitator with agitating elements mounted for cirupon a carpet against which the agitating elements will e'x when striking the same during revolution of the agitator, whereby to cushion and reduce the harshness of the blow.

y I have found that it is essential that the radial stretch of the rubber constituting the body ol the agitating element of this type of agitator, must be kept below a low limit, in order to secure rea- Cil sonable uniformity and controllability of action of the agitators. On the other hand, great cir- Y cumferential ilexibility is desirable.

the invention, in this respect, the agitating element is provided with a resilient wing, either compressible, exible, or stretchable, engaging the hub to yieldingly resist hinging deiiection.

Another object is to provide in a suction cleaner the combination of a rotatable hub and a beaterv element hinged thereto on and projecting radially from an axis parallel to\that of the hub, and means to normally support said element in a. position radial with respect to the agitator axis and to yieldingly resist circumferential deiiection of the element away from the said radial position, the beater element terminating in a hard, smooth surfaced carpet engaging portion.

With these Aand other objects in view the invention consists in the combination and construction and arrangement of the various parts thereof, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as more fully set forth inthe accompanying speciiications, pointed out in the claims, and illustroted in the accomvlnylni drawing. in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an agitator embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view through a suction cleaner iloor tool embodying the invention.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view through the suc- 5 tion chamber of the oor tool. 1

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view through the agitator, taken on the line A1 4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5,is a longitudinal sectional view through a portion of the agitator.

Fig. 6- is a' view, partly in cross section, of a modified form of the agitator.

Fig. 7 is a similar View of another modification.

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view oi another modi- .cation, and l5 Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 6, of another modification.

The invention isshown embodied in a floor tool A attached to the fan case B of the cleaner by a short tube I0 and swivel joint II joining the 20 -v same to the neck I2 of the suction chamber I3.

The rotary agitator comprises a hub I4 to which are secured brushing elements I5 and agitating elements |6.

Each agitating element I6 comprises an elon- 25 gated body of soft rubber of uniform cross section, including a central region I8, and a semicylindrical portion I9 molded into and bonded to the inner surface of a metal channel 20. The latter is formed of a cylindrical tube, one side of which is eut away intermediate its -ends to receive the rubber, leaving cylindrical end portions 2l projecting beyond each end of the rubber body, to form trunnions. These trunnions are journalled in bearings formed by semi-cylindrical seats 22 in the hub I4, and cooperating bearing caps 23. The latter are provided each with a fiat ear 24 which is secured in a recess 25 in the hub by means of a single screw 26, and held against the shoulders 2l dening the sides of the recesses 25.

The central region I8 of the rubber body is extended laterally to form the two resilient buttressing wings 28, engaging the flattened faces 29 of the hub so as to normally support the agitating element radially with respect to the Aagitator axis. When circumferential pressure is imposed against the agitating element, the latter will hinge around the axis of the trunnions 2`I, one of the wins 28 pulling away from contact. 50

with the hub (as at C,in Fig. 3) while the other is compressed and bent (as at D, in Fig. 3)

The agitating element includes a neck region 3| diametrically opposed to the seating portion I9, and centered between the wings 28. The neck region terminates in a head portion 32l around which is clamped a carpet engaging channel 33.

The channel 33 is generally oval in cross section, with its minor axis disposed along a radius of the hinge axis of the agitating element, i. e., its major axis disposed circumferentially of the agitator. This increases the height of the exposed portion of the rubber body. The portion of the channel 33 remote from the hinge axis is preferably semi-cylindrical, while the extremities thereof are bent sharply into the neck 3| as at 34, inside the developed surface of the said remote portion, thereby attaining greater retention of the rubber head 32. i

While the agitating element is hinging around its hinge axis, its neck 3| will simultaneously bend (as at E, in Fig. 3). Thus a double flexing is secured, increasing exibility.

One advantage of the present invention is the fact that the flexibility of the wings 28, and their resistance to circumferential movement, is entirely independent of the resistance of the rubber cumferential pressure body to radial distention. The former depends upon the thickness, shape and arrangement of the wings 28: the latter depends upon the thickness of the neck 3| and of the central body portion I8 where it enters the channel 20. Circumferential flexibility can be increased by thinning the wings 2B, without affecting radial stability.

The channel 20 is accommodated in a depression 3|! in the hub, which may be slightly deeper than the journal seats 22, so as to avoid contact of the channel 20 with the hub except at its end trunnions.

The resilience of the neck region 3| bears such a relation to that of the wings 28 that as ciris applied against the car4- pet engaging portion 33, both neck region and rear wing will yield.

In using the word rear, I have reference. to the wing which extends rearwardly with respect to the direction of rotation (indicated by arrow 31 in Fig. 3). The forward wing assists in positioning Athe agitating element radially of the hub axis when it breaks contact with the carpet, but plays no part in resisting deection under contact with the carpet. y

For this reason, the forward wing Vmay be omitted entirely, allowing the agitating element to swing forwardly past its normal position and thence return to normal position under the effect "of centrifugal force or the rebound of' the centrai body region I8 against the forward face 29 of the hub. Such a form of the inventionis shown in Fig. 6. v f

r the forward wing may be replaced by a rigid stop, such as the ear 38 ofvFig. 7 struck out -from the channel 20, and engageable -with the forward hub face 29. f

Both of the foregoing forms of the invention are less desirable than the preferred form, both from the standpoint of appearance, and because of functional .superiority in the preferred form, which dampens the pendulum swing of the agi tating elementfafter carpet contact, more rapidly and effectively than will the device of Fig. 6, and

more quietly nd smoothly than will the device of Fig. 'i'. The modied forms are, however, fully .operative to attain the general objects of the invention.

at 2 la to the hub |4a, and provided with resilient Wings 28m engaging the hub to yieldingly resist the hinging movement, while allowing the carpet engaging portion 33a to move circumferentially by the contributing flexing of both neck `region |8a and Wings 28a. Instead of employing rubber as the resilient material, however, it employs spring metal, and instead of engaging the outer surface of the hub, the wings 28ar engage the holvlow interior. y

In the latter form of the invention the hub |4a may be formed of complementary sections, diametrically divided, and the hinge may be 'formed by a solid pin 20a. around which the metal of neck |8a vancl wings 28a. is formed. The ends of the pinZa. may be received in complementary depressions (not shown) in bosses 4|l formed in the hub.

The means to yieldingly resist hinging move- 5 ment of the agitating element may be either a compression means, as in the preferred form of Y clamped to the 'hub by strips 4|. The resilient neck 3 |v is embodied, and the channel 20 is hinged to the hub by means similar to that of the preferred form. The stretchability of the forward wing 28h and'the resilience of the neck 3| are correlated so that bothI neck and wing will yield upon carpet contact, to 'give the combined hinging and flexing movement characteristic of the invention.

The present invention is an improvement over prior devices wherein there is no resiliency apart from that which'carries the load of centrifugal action, in that the centrifugal load in the present device is carried by a hinge which in itself does not oppose circumferential deflection, and the resistance of the resilient wing may accordingly be determined at.any gure desired, whereas in that type of device wherein all of the resiliency lis subject to the centrifugal load, the resiliency is limited by the requirement for keeping within the proper limit of radial distensibility.

I claim:

1. In a suction cleaner, a rotary agitator comprising a rotatable hub, a beater element, inherently flexible and hingedly attached to said hub, said element includingv a hard smooth surfaced carpet engaging portion and means to yieldingly resist .such hinging movement, whereby the carpet engaging portion of said element is allowed to yield, upon contact with a carpet, by the combined yielding of said element at the hinge, and

flexing of said element beyond the hinge, said beater elements projecting suiiiciently beyond the periphery of the hub so that said carpet contacting tips can not, during swinging movement to the hub on an-axis parallel to that of the hub,

and means to yieldingly resist hinging deiiection of said element by carpet contact, said element including a iiexible portion extending radially beyond said means and terminating in a hard,

smoothv surfaced carpet engaging portion, said f flexible portion being capable of flexing simultaneously with the movement of said element around its hinge axis, said beater elements projecting suiiciently beyond the periphery of the hub so thatsaid carpet contacting tips can not, during swinging movement of said beaters, contact the hub.

3. In a suction cleaner, a rotary agitator comprising a rotatable hub, and an agitating element comprising an elongated body of resilient material, hinged to the hub on an axis parallel to the hub axis, said bodylbeing formed with an integral resilient wing projectinglaterallyfrom the hinge axis and engaging the hub to yieldingly resist hinging deflection of the element.

4. In a suction cleaner, a rotary agitator comprising a rotatable hub, and an agitating element comprising an elongated body of resilient material, hinged to the hub on an axis parallel to the hub axis, said vvbody being formed with 'integral resilient wings projectingV on either side of its hinge axis and engaged hub.

5. In a suction cleaner, a rotary agitator comprising a rotatable hub, an agitating element hinged thereto on an axis parallel to the axis of normally Y against the rotation, said element having a resilient wing extending laterallyfrom the hinge and engaging the the rubber body, means journalling said trunnions in the hub, and means to yieldingly resist hinging movement of the element from a normal position.

7. In a suction cleaner, a rotatable hub provided with a depression bordered bytwo substantially co-planar faces, an agitating element comprising a channel, a body of soft rubberv secured in said channel, and projecting radially out of the same, said channel terminating in cylindrical trunnions projecting beyond the rubber body, means journalling said trunnions in the hub, with said channel received in said depression and means on said agitating element engaging said faces to normally Support the element in a radial position relative to the hub axis and to yieldingly resist movement from that position, said means including wings forming integral portions of said rubber body, and projecting on either side of said hinge axis.

8. vIn a suction cleaner, a rotatable hub provided with a depression, an agitating element comprising a channel, a body of soft rubber se- -cured in said channel, and projecting radially out of the same, said channel terminating in cylindrical trunnions projecting beyond the rubber body, said hub having semicylindrical bearing seats at the ends of said depression, bordered by shoulder embraced regions, bearing'caps securing said'trunnions in said seats with said channel accommodated in said depression, said caps having ears retained in said shoulder embraced regions, and means to yieldingly resist hinging deflection of the element from a normal position.

9. In a suction cleaner, a rotary agitator comprising a hub, rotatably mounted, a beater element hinged to the hub on, and projecting radially from, an axis parallel to that of the hub and terminating in a hard smooth surfaced carpet engaging portion. and means to normally support said element in a position radial with respect tothe agitator axis and to yieldingly resist circumferential deiiection of the element away from said position, said means being interposed between a lateralregion of the beater and an adjacent region of the hub so as to prevent contact between said carpet engaging portion and saidy 10. In a suction cleaner, a rotary agitator comprising a rotatable hub, an agitating element hinged thereto on an axis parallel to the axis of rotation, said element having a resilient wing extending laterally from the hinge and engaging the hub to yieldingly resist hinging deection of said element from a normal position. l

11. In a suction cleaner, a rotary agitator comprising a rotatable hub, an agitating element hinged thereto on an axis parallel to the axis of rotation, said element having a resilient compressible wing extending laterally from the hinge and engaging the hub to yieldingly resist, under compression, hinging deection of said element from a. normal position.

12. In a suction cleaner, a rotary agitator comprising a rotatable hub, an agitating element hinged thereto on an axis parallel to the axis of rotation, said element having a resilient flexible wing extending laterally from the hinge and engaging the hub to yieldingly resist, under bending flexure, hinging deiiection of said element from a normal position.

. 13. In a suction cleaner, a rotary agitator comprising a rotatable hub, an agitating element .hinged thereto on an axis parallel to the axis of rotation, said element having a resilient stretchable wing extending laterally from the hinge and engaging the hub to yieldingly resist, under stretching tension, hinging deection of said element from a normal position.

14. In a suction cleaner, a rotatable hub, and agitating element comprising a channel, a body of soft rubber secured in said channel. and projecting radially out of the same, said channel terminating in cylindrical trunnions projecting beyond the rubber body, and means journalling said trunnions in the hub.

15. In a suction cleaner, an agitating element y 'drical trunnions projecting beyond the rubber body.

16. In a vacuum cleaner, a rotatable hub,

spaced opposed 'semi-cylindrical bearing seats therein, aligned with each other axially of the hub, an agitating element having at its respective ends, projecting trunnions received in said seats, and bearing caps detachably secured to the hub and cooperating with said seats to form bearingsv for said trunnions.

17. In a vacuum cleaner, a rotatable hub, spaced opposed semi-cylindrical bearing seats therein, aligned with each other axially of the hub, an agitating element having at its respective ends, projecting trunnions received in said y therein, aligned with each other axially of the hub, an agitating element hat/ing at its respective ends, projectingv trunnions received in said seats, and bearing caps detachably secured to the hub and cooperating with said seats to form bearings for said trunnions, the region of the hub between said seats being radially depressed below said seats. A FREDERICK RIEBEL, Jn. 

